Governance can be defined as a process where the populace is expected to conform to specific rules and regulations to achieve a certain level of sanity that is required in the community. In such a situation, people have specific expectations about the government and other authorities in their immediate environment. By adhering to listed processes, the government expects the citizenry to reach out for help and benefit from the policies, which create an enabling environment for interactions in the world today. From this observation, it is evident that governance comprises of making policies and decisions where individuals benefit from their healthy relationship with the relevant authorities.
In the age of information technology, company managers encounter numerous challenges that hinder their ability from making informed decisions in their immediate environment. Overcoming these problems requires company managers to align their interests with the needs of individuals in the business environment. For example, some of the issues governance aim to solve, include regulatory compliance, security, and privacy. Given the fact that information governance focuses on developing solutions, it is imperative to realize the approaches that can be used to improve the lifestyles of individuals in their immediate environment. Thus, there is a need to discover the different techniques that can be used in the modern workplace to enhance people’s livelihoods.
Developing innovative tools and technological applications enable people to address problems that affect them in their immediate environment. In this regard, there is a need to explore the available options, which can be used to understand the issues affecting people in the world today. For instance, companies can develop unique applications that can be used to secure website applications and other vulnerable platforms. By capitalizing on this opportunity, it is possible for organizations to increase their visibility in the business environment where they can realize their potential and connect with the target audience. Hence, it is imperative for company managers to learn how they can explore opportunities in the market and convert them into profits.
Governability in the workplace is a feature that allows business leaders to protect the interests of stakeholders by engaging them to understand the problems, which affect their ability to interact with other people. In this case, company managers can limit people on the sites they can access when using the organization’s internet connection. On security and privacy, simple gaffes expose organizations to significant risks that can affect their operational performance in the business environment. Understanding these different elements enables business managers to govern the activities of individuals in the workplace and avoid pitfalls, which could limit the ability of the company to succeed in its endeavors.
Exploring the numerous opportunities in the corporate world requires business execs to identify the challenges, which should be addressed to improve people’s lifestyles. In this regard, organizations should identify the opportunities and challenges existing in the market to accomplish their objectives in the market. The concept of governability can be used to control the decision-making process of individuals and introduce regulations that meet the required standards in the business environment — introducing governability in the workplace enables company managers to outline the roles and responsibilities, which should be undertaken by each in their immediate environment.
Case Study: Cambridge Analytica
Identifying Problem Wickedness
Security and privacy is an important aspect that affects the ability of individuals to interact and engage without any form of fear in their immediate environment. When Cambridge Analytica used people’s data to influence the outcome of elections in the U.S., it violated their privacy and demonstrated the vulnerability that exists when information is obtained illegally. For instance, Facebook Inc. and Google LLC. use consumer information to improve people’s browsing experience through a customized web interface, advertisements, among other technology attributes (Cadwalladr & Graham-Harrison, 2018). From this realization, it is essential to point out that the attempts by organizations to safeguard the confidentiality of consumers against possible manipulation and exploitation by third-party affiliations such as Cambridge Analytica have increased the concerns for safety when accessing the internet.
In many instances, data harvesting is supposed to enable organizations to make informed decisions regarding the preferences made by their target audience. When introducing new products and services in the business environment, it is imperative for organizations to understand the different needs of consumers and develop viable solutions that solve their problems (Granville, 2018). In this regard, companies use existing data to make informed decisions that reflect on their ability to meet consumer needs. However, the involvement of Cambridge Analytica in the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election sparked controversy regarding the protection of consumer information. Established corporations such as Facebook have been compelled to outline their data protection measures that safeguard individuals from external attacks that could be introduced by third-party affiliations.
Many people are now skeptical of sharing their information with organizations because of the ability of the corporations to share their details to make profits. According to different whistleblower accounts, Cambridge Analytica used Facebook-based information to target American voters with propaganda machinery that swayed their voting decisions (Solon, 2018). The data firm associated with President Donald Trump’s election team was also involved in the Brexit Vote that has become a contentious issue because of the different elements that were overlooked during the entire exercise. People have now come out to regret their decision that led to the UK breaking off from the EU in an exciting twist of events.
Cambridge Analytica’s decision to tap Facebook users’ information to determine the outcome of elections in the U.S. and the Brexit vote was misplaced because of the dangers it could expose innocent individuals. In this regard, the concept of governability should be used by the relevant authorities such as the Senate to develop policies, which determine the approaches that should be used by third-party affiliations when using consumer information. From this observation, it is evident that the move by Cambridge was illegitimate because of its ability to expose innocent users to vulnerable situations that affect their lifestyles.
Examining System Properties
The governing system plays a critical role because of its ability to outline the much-needed obligations that guide individuals on their interactions with other users when accessing different social platforms. In this segment, individuals are informed about their rights and the regulations that should protect their confidentiality when accessing the internet (Isaak & Hanna, 2017). Relevant authorities should put in place measures that protect the populace from any unanticipated challenges, which may affect their livelihoods. Engaging in research activities to understand the approaches that can be used to solve the issues enables the authorities to make informed decisions that reflect their intentions to improve the prevailing situations.
Pressure from the civil societies and the state can accomplish the desired objectives, which hold organizations responsible for any incident that occurs in the business environment. Importantly, individuals should understand their role and that of the corporations when sharing information to the organization. They should demand the relevant measures that should be put in place before the company can access their data. However, many individuals are unaware of their rights and other forms of entitlement that should be delivered by organizations before accessing their information and other relevant data. From this observation, it is evident that the state can introduce a series of amendments to protect innocent and unsuspecting civilians from any exploitation executed by corporations.
The government is responsible for steering and directing individuals to embrace specific measures, which affect the outcomes of events in the business environment. From this realization, it is evident that the role of the government influences the outcomes of activities and the ability of the populace to conform to the existing regulations. First order governance focuses on the political, economic, and social factors, which seek to solve the problems affecting individuals in their immediate environment (Kolhoff, 2018). In the second order of governance, institutions are called upon to enforce the recommendations made by the policymakers. Later, the third order of management focuses on elements of good governance where appointed individuals play the advisory role to improve the outcomes of events in the business environment.
The economic, cultural, and social factors should be considered by organizations when introducing the different concepts of data protection. In this case, diversity and complexity scales influence the outcomes of events in contemporary society because of the possible issues that may arise in the market. In many occasions, organizations engage in business activities to make a profit by solving people’s needs (Zunger, 2018). Even though the main aim is the generation of revenue, there should be a thin line that differentiates individuals from manipulative organizations that misuse consumer information. Giving back to society is an activity that increases the visibility of an organization in the market as well as the relationship between companies and consumers in the business environment. The approaches embraced by organizations to protect the interests of their consumers play a significant role in the development of objectives, which differentiate an organization from other business players.
Evaluating the Governing System
When the details about the activities of Cambridge Analytica leaked to the world, it emerged that the company could have been planning to engage in worse engagements that would have affected the operational performance of organizations in the business environment. In this regard, the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives summoned Facebook’s top executive to understand its involvement in the scuffle (Persily, 2017). However, Facebook denied any relations with Cambridge Analytica, hinting that the data mining company used a third-party application to gain access to consumer information. Following the willingness of the company to comply with the Senate Hearings, it emerged that there was a need to protect individuals from data harvesting corporations that misuse individual information to make profits.
From the interactions between Facebook and the relevant authorities, new legal and binding agreements were developed to safeguard internet users from any possible exploitation from third-party affiliations. In many instances, individuals fail to understand the ramifications of sharing information, especially in the age of information technology, where sharing is believed to be caring. After their negotiations, the California Consumer Privacy Act (2018) was developed to enable individuals to make informed decisions regarding their safety when accessing the internet (Peruzzi, Zollo, Quattrociocchi, & Scala, 2018). In the UK, data protection laws have been developed to protect individuals from any incidences that might interfere with their lifestyles. However, much is yet to be realized as organizations are always engaging in activities that seek to improve their operational performance at the expense of the consumer.
In its part, Facebook should demonstrate its renewed commitment by elevating its data protection machinery to regain the trust that was lost after the Cambridge Analytica incident. Importantly, the corporation should improve its relations with the law and other civil societies that push for the protection of consumer information in the modern world. Many corporations have failed to prevent third-party access because of the dismissive nature that is used by cybercriminals to gain consumer information (Purwanto, Al Husain, & Fathullah, 2018). However, Facebook can now regulate the information that is shared on the platform to protect individuals from consuming any harmful content. Gradually, innovators continue to introduce different technologies, which seek to improve the lifestyles of individuals in the contemporary world. With the data protection laws in place, it will be possible for internet users to access information and accomplish their objectives.
Facebook should change its privacy approach to improve the level of effectiveness that is visible when delivering content to internet users. In this regard, many people use the platform to interact with their friends and strangers on a wide range of topical issues that take place in the modern world. However, the social platform has repeatedly denied its association with third-party affiliations such as Cambridge Analytica that gain access to confidential user information before proceeding to initiate propaganda manipulation attempts on the unsuspecting Facebook community. In this regard, it is crucial to observe the measures that can be put into place to realize the different benefits of accessing information without the fear of unanticipated attacks from cybercriminals.
Governing Interactions Analysis
Using government resources to monitor the activities of individuals reduces the instances where the public can be exploited by third-party affiliations such as Cambridge Analytica. By using this information gathered from Facebook can be used to reveal the identity of individuals to cybercriminals who might use the content to advance their extremist agenda. In such a situation, it is possible to cushion the citizenry from any unanticipated risks that may harm their livelihoods. Around the globe, governments are responsible for the wellbeing of individuals and are supposed to put in measures that protect any form of external interference from third-party organizations.
The formation of policies is an essential element of governing interactions between organizations and their consumers. Notably, many organizations fail to engage the consumer market regarding the measures that have been put into place to protect them from external cyber attacks. In this regard, it is imperative to note the approaches that have been undertaken by Facebook, Inc. following its engagements with the U.S. Senate to protect consumer information (Klien, Rao, & Dalvi, 2018). By introducing self-regulatory mechanisms, the company will realize its vision and accomplish its objectives in the market. Usually, the performance of an organization is based on its ability to meet the changing needs of individuals in the community. Informing the public about their rights in the business environment increases the level of responsibility that can be demonstrated by an organization in the corporate world.
Engaging the public on the need to protect them from any attacks or exploitation by third-party affiliations is an important role that should be executed by organizations in the business environment. Importantly, consumers trust the organization to create an enabling environment where they can interact with their friends and strangers on a wide range of activities in the community (Kooiman, 2016). From this realization, Facebook should introduce online and physical forums where it engages the public on its measures that aim at improving the security levels in their platform. In the same vein, the corporation should seek the opinion of individuals regarding the steps that should be put in place regarding their safety and general well-being.
Building a system where individuals can engage with the government on topical issues affecting their livelihoods creates a sense of responsibility on the officials, enabling them to respond positively to concerns from the public. While platforms such as Facebook and Twitter may have an insignificant impact on the desired outcomes, it is possible to identify the need to maintain a healthy relationship with different stakeholders in their immediate environment. Importantly, the citizenry relies heavily on the ability of the government to make informed decisions based on its ability to gauge situations and respond positively with solutions. Given the fact that there are different orders of governance, it is possible to state that the government may choose on distinct techniques that meet the expectations of individuals in their immediate environment. From this realization, it is imperative to observe the measures that affect the possibility to initiate change in the world today.
Conclusion
Introducing governability in the workplace enables company managers to outline the roles and responsibilities, which should be undertaken by each in their immediate environment. Given the role of Facebook where it acted as a conduit to Cambridge Analytica’s decision to ping user information, there is a need to observe the various approaches that can be used by the government to regulate access by third-party organizations. On many occasions, it is possible to understand the various techniques that are used continuously to respond to different situations in the world today. Mainly, governance aims at solving problems that affect the outcomes of events in the modern environment. Challenges such as security and privacy pose a critical threat in the execution of tasks and development of policies, which hinder the ability of the government to respond to problems affecting the citizenry. Hence, relying on governance to protect the welfare of individuals allows the public to discover its potential and the ability to overcome issues related to its vulnerabilities.
In many occasions, governments have put in place regulations that aim at protecting individuals from any exploitation by third-party affiliations. In this case, organizations such as Facebook should utilize their resources to develop measures and approaches that can be used to safeguard individuals from any instance that might affect their perspectives towards life. When Facebook users realized that a data mining corporation had obtained their information, there was a global uproar regarding the involvement of Facebook in the entire scuffle. However, the corporation maintained its innocence by distancing itself from the organization to save its face. In the wake of these revelations, many individuals attacked its business model that allows marketers to interact directly with potential consumers. For instance, many individuals deleted their Facebook accounts because of the inability of the corporation to protect them from cybercriminals. While the aspect of security is non-negotiable, various oversights could significantly ruin Facebook’s reputation in the business environment. Hence, the ability of an organization to protect its target audience is inspired by the need to promote awareness about the loopholes that can be exploited by cybercriminals.
Data harvesting companies such as Cambridge Analytica have undermined the process of marketing that enables corporations to make informed decisions before developing products for different audiences. In this regard, Cambridge’s decision to manipulate voters’ choices demonstrates the impact of accessing consumer information and the extent with which cybercriminals can harm unsuspecting victims. In this regard, there is a need to observe the significance of Facebook and other social companies developing measures that can be used to protect users from any cybercriminal activity. When individuals are triggered to believe a particular narrative, it becomes impossible to introduce any new measures because of their prior experience with the mentioned corporation. From this realization, it is imperative for organizations to safeguard the interests of their clients to avoid any instance that might affect their lifestyle. Specifically, Facebook should demonstrate its renewed energy to take down any negative sentiments that might affect its operational performance in the business environment.
